When you are prepared you can do anything
Sprint Coach Gerard Mach quote:
“When you are prepared you can do whatever you want, but when you’re not prepared you run like a beginner. Preparation is number 1, number 2, number 3, number 4, number 5, number 6 - when you get to number 97 then we’ll talk about psychology.”
It’s more than strength and conditioning
There is a lot that goes into physical preparation aka training that doesn’t involve lifting weights and doing more conditioning. Why does it not get more attention and why is it not taught to coaches? I think because its not as sexy and muscular physiques have monopolized the attention. Let’s face it many people are attention seekers. Combine attention seekers with that which is shiny and perhaps we have found an answer. The coaches of KSI like myself embrace this more holistic approach where strength and conditioning are but pieces of a bigger whole. I’ll give one example, strength can’t teach technique and neither can conditioning work. So, if your technique sucks you can lift all you want and it won’t change your technique.
Less blame on psychology
There is often a lot of talk about sports psychology. When you have prepared well it can also boost your confidence. I think we are too quick to blame an athlete’s mindset. I think it is more common for the athlete to not even be aware of some limiting factors or not have addressed them and when those limitations arise in competition it is simpler for everyone to blame the athlete’s mind as being the culprit for losing. Instead, blame the coaches who didn’t prepare the athlete(s) to achieve their potential.